﻿ Gautam Gambhir explains why it is wrong to compare Prithvi Shaw with Virender Sehwag | Cricket News


Updated Oct 10, 2018 | 19:49 IST | Times Now Digital

India vs West Indies series: Veteran cricketer Gautam Gambhir explains why comparing Prithvi Shaw with former cricketer Virender Sehwag is wrong.

Prithvi Shaw, Virender Sehwag
Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw (left) and former cricketer Virender Sehwag (right) - AP/PTI 

New Delhi: Prithvi Shaw, India's new teenage sensation in the game of cricket, has lived up to all expectations and hype surrounding his debut for the nation as he ramped up a remarkable maiden international century en route to 134 against West Indies in Rajkot last week. The Man of the Match in the Rajkot Test where India won by an innings and 272 runs, has since then been compared to Virender Sehwag for his batting techniques and approach to the game. However, shrugging off the comparison, veteran cricketer Gautam Gambhir said that one should think twice before comparing the two.

"Whoever is comparing (Prithvi with Sehwag) needs to think twice before comparing. Ultimately you should not compare anyone to anyone. He (Shaw) has just started his career and there is a long way to go. I have never believed in comparisons. He (Shaw) has got his own individuality and Sehwag had his own individuality. He (Shaw) has just started his career and someone like Sehwag has played 100 Test matches," said Gambhir.

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However, Gambhir did praise the youngster for his remarkable Test debut. In the absence of the two premier openers, Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, who were axed by the selectors, Shaw was given the opportunity to make his debut after being initially selected for the final two Tests against England, but not given the final green signal. Shaw laced 19 boundaries en route to his 134-run knock and also stitched a gritty 206-run partnership with Chesteshwar Pujara. "Obviously, he's (Shaw) impressive. He's very talented and that's why he is there. The important thing is that he started off his Test career on a very good note but there will be far bigger and far difficult challenges waiting for him," he added.

Shaw is likely to play the second Test against West Indies at Hyderabad which starts October 12 and is in line to join an elite list alongside Sourav Ganguly and Mohammad Azharuddin if he scores a century in the first innings. But what will be worth noticing is whether he will be able to perform under all the expectation that he has created following his debut. 
